Electroplated aricle and method of making same



' Sept. 14 1926. 1,599,608

' J. R. BROWN E-r A.

' ELECTROPLATED ARTICLE AND METHOD or MAKING SAME Original'F'iled Feb.-ll. 1922 Patenten sept. 14, 192e.

UNITED srA'rEsPATENT ori-'ICE'.

JOHN ROWLAN D BROWN AND JOHN C. MULLNNI, OF C EVELAND, omo, AssieiroitsTO'THE RELIANCE GAUGE COLUMN COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORA-TIoN oF omo.

ELECIQROPLATED ARTICLE AND METHOD OF MAKING i Application led February11, 1922, Serial No. 535,951. YRenewed June 21, 1924.

The present improved method of makingv electro-plated articles has beendeveloped in connection with the manufacture of hollow articles andparticularly floats of the kind used in steamtraps, water columns, etc.,the object being to make a ioat composed of an internal hollowfoundation and an external seamless metallic shell electro-depositedthereon, instead of s inning the float from sheet metal in hemisp eresand then lapping together and brazing the two sections at the y meanshereinafter fully described and means` embodying the joint, asis thecurrent practice in manufacturing suchv floats. The present improve-`ments, however, are not limited to the manufacture of such lowarticles, but at least in certain phases will be found of utility inelectro-plating solid forms composed of various materials, as forexample in the manufacture of statuary, vases and other art objects.

Where non-metallic articles are to be elec- Y tro-plated it is, ofcourse, necessary first to .coat the same with finely powdered graphiteor with some equivalent material that will render the surface aconductor for electricity. For many purposes the present practice is touse in place of suoli" graphite, bronze or copper powder (copper schlifand one object of thepresent invention acordingly is to provide animproved method for attaching a coating of such metallic powder inuniformly distributed condition over the surface of the article tobeplated. Resulting from such method of attachment an article havingcertain novel characteristics is produced. To the accomplishment of theforegoing and related ends, the invention then consists of the steps andparticularly pointed out in thel claims, the annexe'd'drawinv and thefollowing description setting forth in detail certain steps andinvention, such disclosed steps and means constituting, however, but oneof various ways in which the principle` ofthe invention maybe used.

o In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is =a perspective view of'- an internalhollow foundation or core suitable for use -in the maufacture of a`hollow spherical float, in -accordance withour? present improvedmethod; Fig. 2 is .a central section, on a somewhat larger scale,through floats, or even to hol'- Ser'. No. 505,524, filed inventorsFebruary viewv similar to Fig. 3, but showing the article ina subsequentstage of its manufacture;` and Fig. 5 is a view likewise similar to Fig.3, but showing the completed article, i. e., after the outer metal coatyhas been electro-deposited on the lfoundation or The core or foundation1, while shown in the drawing as of approximately spherical form, may,of course takev on any shape required by the exigencies of the use towhich the completed float is to beput. For

that matter, as pointed out above, our` improved process is not limitedto the fabrication of floats but is applicable to the making of varioussolid, where a non-metallic foundation is to be coated with a thin layerof metal. The

spud 2, shown as attached tothe core in Fig. 2, accordingly is a featureof incidental interest only and may not be required at all where thearticle to be made requires no external attaching means, the particularY spud shown forming separate application Brown,

the subject-matter of a filed by John Rowland one of the presentinventors, viz.,

October 5,' 1921.

Where the device is intended for use as a float, the core pulp material,as for example, wood pulp or papier-mch, and is Acharacterized by havingits'exterior surface closely and more orv less uniformly dotted withsmall rounded protuberances 3, this particular type of core likewiseforming the subject-matter of va lis preferably molded from.

articles, either hollow' or separate application filed" by the presents, i922, ser. N o. 535,037. So far as' the present improved process isconcerned, such surface may be entirely smooth, 'such process primarilyrelating, as previously incl'cated, to 'the preparation of the surface,whatever its character,` for the electro-deposition of the metalliccoating.

According to the present process, assuming where a spud or like element1s to be ido - `thereupon deposited on the surface of the solved in asuitable liquid vehicle and ca-` pable of hardening when subjected toevaporation orl other treatment will serve as .a satisfactory lacquerfor the purpose. After the first coating of such lacquer has beenapplied, the surface, particularly where the core isimade of molded pulpmaterial, is sandpapered or otherwise polished so as to remove any tinyprojecting strands of the base material. Thereupon one or moreadditional coats of the same or a similar lacquer are applied, thecoating being com.

veniently accomplished by simply dipping the core or foundation in abath of the lacquer maintained in proper fluid condition. Thusv there isbuilt up, closely surrounding .the core or foundation, a shell 4 ofpyroxylin, cellulose or equivalent cellulosic derivative, and it is uponthis shell that the final coat of metal is'deposited.

It is necessary first, however, to coat such intermediate shell withelectro-conductive material, as previously explained. To this end vsuchmaterial, for example, the bronze or -copper powder hereinbeforereferred to, is thoroughly mixed in a liquid vehicle consisting of asolvent for the celluloid or equivalent layer, for example, amylacetate, chlorhydrin or like known solvent. Preferably a small quantityof the pyroxylin or other cellulosic derivative is also included` insuch mixture, the latterbeing left suiiiciently Huid to permit it to beapplied to the core or foundation by spraying with an air brush or likedevice. A thin uniform coating of such mixture is applied with theresult 'that the solvent ingredient will soften the exterior surface ofthe previously applied layer or coat sufficiently to render the sametacky, thereby causing the fine metal par- ".icles to firmly adhere; butthe Aevaporation rf the solvent ingredient leaves such parexposed, sothat they are ticles 5 otherwise not coated with the pyroxylin and soprevented from subserving their proper function as a conductor for theelectric current. The articles thus prepared are now ready to beimmersed in an electrolytic'bath and a coating 6 of copper or othermetal is article in the usual way.

Preliminarily to the application of the first coat of lacquer, we findit desirable to Vheat the core, where the latter is of the hollow typeillustrated and required for use in the case of floats or similararticles, the point to which such heating'.` is carried being determinedby the temperature -which the material composing the core will standwithout injury. The result will of course be the expansion of the air orother gas within the core so that when the latter is subsequentlyimmersed -in a bath of lacquer,- which is maintained at a lowertemperature preferably as coldfas it can be conveniently maintainedwithout rendering it too stiff, the air within the core will contractand so create a suction effect that will tend to cause the lacquertopenetrate the'core rather than just cling to the surface. Indeed wherethe relative temperatures of the core and lacquer are reversed, there is,a tendency for the air upon expansion during the dipping operation toescape through the core and form bubbles under the coatingl of lacquer.i

Other forms may-be employed embodying the features of our inventioninstead of the' one here explained, change being made in the form orconstruction, provided the elements stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed, whetherproduced by our preferred method or by Vothers embodying stepsequivalent to those stated in the following claims.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as ourinvention 1. In a method of electroplating a nonmetallic article, firstcoating such article with a cellulose applying a coating ofelectro-conductive material, and thereupon electrolytically deposit--ing the desired metal.

2. In a method of electroplating a nonmetallic article, the steps whichconsist in first coating such article with a cellulose derivative on theorder of celluloid, then applying a coating of electro-conductivematerial intermixed with a volatile solvent for such derivative as avehicle, evaporating oil such solvent, and thereupon electrolyticallydepositing the vdesired metal.

3. In a method of electroplating a nonmetallic article, the steps whichconsist in first repeatedly dipping such article in a solution of acellulose derivative on the order of celluloid and evaporating oil thesolvent until a substantial layer of such derivative is obtained, thenspraying a coating of electro-conductive material intermixed with avolatile solvent for such derivative as a vehicle, evaporating off suchsolvent, and thereupon electrolytically depositing the desired metal.

the steps which consist in Vderivative on the order of Celluloid, then i4. In a method of electroplating a non-lY metallic article, the stepswhich consist in 1,599,6os p B solution ot a cellulose derivative on theor- 9. A hollow float or like article comprisder of celluloid andevaporating oil the soling a core molded from pulp material, a ventuntil a substantial layer of such decoating of Celluloid applied to suchcore, and rivative is obtainedhthen spraying a coatingan-electro-deposited coating of desired metal 55 ot finely dividedmetallic powder intersurrounding such first coating. i mixed with avolatile solvent for such del0. An. electroplating base, whichcomrivative as a vehicle, evaporating off such prises a'hollow core ofpulp material having solvent, and thereupon electrolytically dea coatingof a cellulosic derivative on the positing the desired metal. order ofCelluloid. 60 5. ln a method of electroplating a hollow l1. Anelectroplating base, which comair-permeable article, the steps whichconsist prises a hollow core ot pulp material, the in dipping same in abath of acid-resisting exterior surface being covered with closelylacquer, the interior of sucharticle being spaced small protuberancesand having a sealedk with'. air or other gaseous medium coating ofcellulosic derivative on the order 65 therein'and the temperature ofsuch article. of Celluloid. 7 Y

being higher than that of such bath, remoV- 12. In a method of coating ahollow aring the article from such bath, whereupon ticle molded frompulp material .so as to the contraction of the air or other gaseousrender the same non-permeable to air, the medium therein due to coolingwill create step which consists in dipping such article 70 a suctioneiect, then applying to the arin a solution of a cellulosic derivativeon ticle a coating of electro-conductive matethe order ofA Celluloid,the temperature of rial, and thereupon electrolyt-ically-depositsucharticle being higher than that of such ing the desired metal. solution.y

6. ln a method of electroplating a hollow 13. 1n a method 'of coating ahollow ar- I5 article molded from pulp material, the steps ticle moldedfrom. pulp material so as to which consist in dipping same in a solutionrender the same non-permeable to air the o oi a cellulose derivative onthe order 'o r' steps which consist in dipping such article celluloid,the temperature of such article bein a solution `of a cellulosicderivative on ing higher than that jof such solution, the order ofCelluloid, the temperature of. 80

3o evaporating 0E the solvent so as to leave a such article being higherthan that of Such coating of such derivative, polishing the'arsolution,evaporating oli thesolvent so as ticle thus coated, similarly applyingone or to leave a coating of'such derivative, polish- 4 more additionalcoatings of such derivative ing the article thus coated, and similarly yuntil a substantial layer thereof is obtained, applying one or moreadditional coatings 85 :sa then spraying a coating of electro-conducofsuch derivative until a substantial layer ltive material intermixed witha volatile thereof is obtained.

" solvent for such derivative as a vehicle, 14. .In a method of coating'a hollow arevaporating off such solvent, and thereupon ticle molded:trom pulp material so as to electrolytically depositing the desiredmetal. render the same non-permeable to air,`the 90 40 7 Anelectroplated article comprising a steps whichconsist in dipping sucharticle core of non-metallic material other than celin a solution of acellulosic derivative on luloid, a coating ot ail cellulose derivativethe order of celluloid, polishing the article on the orderV ofcelluloid. applied to such thus coated, and thereupon applying one orcore, and an electro-deposited coating ot'de- ,morel additional coatingsof such deriva- 95 sired metal surrounding such rst coating. tive untila substantial layer thereotl is 'ob- ,8. An electroplated articlecomprising a tained. i f f core molded trom pulp material, a coatingSigned by us, this 7th day of February, of a cellulose. derivative onthe order of v1922. celluloid applied to such core, and an elecv,

tro-deposited coating of desired metal sur` JOHN ROWLAND BROWN.

rounding such rst coating. JOHN IC. MU'LLINNIX.A

